BELGIUM. 467 



crude variety, and is treated chemically by the paper manufacturers 

 according to their requirements. 



During the year 1897, 65,078,543 kilograms (143,472,156 pounds) 

 of the various varieties of pulp were imported for consumption into 

 this country and 35,148,844 kilograms (77,896,419 pounds) exported. 



Of the total of the importations above given, 44,896,419 kilo- 

 grams (98,978,645 pounds) were the product of Norwayand Sweden, 

 19,404,984 kilograms (43,880,228 pounds) came from Germany, and 

 2,391,065 kilograms (5,271,342 pounds) were brought from the 

 United States. 



The crude pulp is admitted free of duty, provided that it is so 

 perforated that it can not be used except for manufacturing pur- 

 poses. The perforation can be made by the manufacturer at or be- 

 fore the time of shipment. Pulp imported in dry leaves, which may 

 be used in the state in which it is manufactured, is subject to a duty 

 of 4 francs per 100 kilograms (77 cents per 220.46 pounds). 



I know of but one establishment engaged in the treatment of 

 wood pulp by sulphur; it is located at Willebroeck, in this consular 

 district. The annual production of this establishment is said to be 

 from 8,000 to 10,000 tons, the greater part of which is exported to 

 France, England, and Spain. It sells in the market here for about 

 the same price as the Norwegian product of the same quality. There 

 is no manufactory of the mechanical sort here. The total produc- 

 tion of all grades, variously treated at different points within the 

 Kingdom, is estimated at about 70,000 tons annually. 



The ruling prices for the Scandinavian varieties on this market 

 are: Mechanical, air dried and well ground, is quoted at 105 to no 

 francs ($20. 26 to $21.23) per ton c. i. f. Antwerp; unbleached soda 

 pulp, dry, from 205 to 215 francs ($39.57 to $41.50) per ton c. i. f. ; 

 unbleached sulphite, from 205 to 225 francs ($39.57 to $43.42) per 

 ton, according to quality. At the same time, American bleached 

 soda pulp was quoted at 240 to 245 francs ($46.32 to $47.28) per 

 ton c. i. f. 



The number of large paper manufacturers is limited. Following 

 is a list of those known here as making use of pulp in some form in 

 their works: 



Societe Anonyme des Papeteries de Limal, Limal. 



Societe Anonyme des Papeteries de Gastuche, Gastuche. 



Societe Anonyme de 1'Union des Papeteries, Bruxelles. 



Societe Anonyme des Papeteries de 1'Escaut, Gentbrugge. 



G. Steevens, Droogenbosch. 



P. Stevens, Lembeck. 



F. Deleroix, Boulers. 



De Broux & Co., Noirhat. 



G. Demeurs & Fils, Huysingen. 



